Patent US2601593A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4175809A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4175809A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotatable electrical connector units and lighting devices incorporating same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-04-07
•
Granted: 1979-11-27
•
Expires: 1998-04-07
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are rotatable electrical connector units and adjustable lighting devices incorporating these units. The rotatable electrical connector unit in accordance with the invention comprises a shaft which is at least partially hollow and at least three electrically insulating discs mounted transversely on the shaft, each of the discs carrying at least one electrical contact ring. The electrical contact rings are arranged on the discs such that there are two pairs of electrical contact rings, each pair separated from each other, and such that the contact rings of each pair are in slidable electrical contact with each other. The unit further includes a housing about the shaft and the discs, a portion of the housing engaging at least one of the discs such that when the housing portion is rotated relative to the shaft, the engaged disc is caused to rotate about the shaft. At least four electrical conductors extend from the unit, each electrical conductor attached to a different contact ring.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph R. Dusko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R39/00; F; F21; F21V; F21V21/00; F21V21/14; F21V21/26; F21V21/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit adapted for use in a lighting device comprising a shaft which is at least partially hollow, at least three electrically insulating discs mounted transversely on said shaft, each of said discs carrying at least one electrical contact ring, said electrical contact rings arranged on said discs such that there are two pairs of electrical contact rings, each pair separated from each other, and such that the contact rings of each pair are in slidable electrical contact with each other, a housing including two portions capable of rotating relative to each other and about said shaft and said discs, the housing portions fixed to each end of the shaft and the shaft includes a rotatable joint within the housing which allows the end portions of the shaft and their respective housing portions to be rotated with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, one portion of the housing engaging at least one of the discs such that when the housing portion is rotated relative to the shaft, the engaged disc is caused to rotate about the shaft, and at least four electrical conductors extending from the unit, each electrical conductor attached to a different contact ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit adapted for use in a lighting device comprising a shaft which is at least partially hollow, at least three electrically insulating discs mounted transversely on said shaft, each of said discs carrying at least one electrical contact ring, said electrical contact rings arranged on said discs such that there are two pairs of electrical contact rings, each pair separated from each other, and such that the contact rings of each pair are in slidable electrical contact with each other, a housing including two portions capable of rotating relative to each other and about said shaft and said discs, the housing portions fixed to each end of the shaft and the shaft includes a rotatable joint within the housing which allows the end portions of the shaft and their respective housing portions to be rotated with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, one portion of the housing engaging at least one of the discs such that when the housing portion is rotated relative to the shaft, the engaged disc is caused to rotate about the shaft, and at least four electrical conductors extending from the unit, each electrical conductor attached to a different contact ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 1 wherein the contact rings of each pair are forced into engagement by springs about the shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 1 wherein the discs engaging the housing rotate about a double wedge member carried by the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 1 wherein the housing engages discs by means of one or more ribs on the inner surface of the housing each passing through a notch in a disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 1 wherein the housing is generally spherical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A lighting device having illuminating means including at least one of the rotatable electrical connector units of claim 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 1 including four insulating discs, each disc carrying an electrical contact ring, and one of the discs carrying one of the contact rings of each pair engaging the housing, the other disc of each pair fixed to the shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 7 wherein an electrical conductor from each contact ring pair extends through openings in the housing and the other electrical conductor from each contact pair extends through the hollow portion of the shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 1 wherein the shaft includes at least one tapered wedge member slidable on the shaft which engages a tapered opening in the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 9 wherein the shaft includes two wedge members located near each end of the shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 9 wherein means are provided on an end of the shaft to adjust the degree of engagement of the wedge member with the opening in the housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 1 wherein the discs are located about one of the shaft portions and the housing portion fixed to that shaft portion engages one of the discs nearest the end of the shaft, the other housing portion engaging the disc which carries two contact rings and is between the discs nearest the ends of the shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 12 wherein the housing portions engage the respective discs by means of one or more ribs on the interior surface of each of the housing portions passing through a notch on the disc.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 12 wherein one electrical conductor from each contact pair extends into each shaft portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 14 wherein the electrical conductors extend from the ends of the shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A rotatable electrical connector unit according to claim 15 wherein the contact ring pairs are forced into good electrical contact by springs about the shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US490903A
Cited
US958448A
Cited
GB191222138A
Cited
GB566985A
Cited
DE880905C
Cited
FR1055042A
Cited
US2833996A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-26 | 1983-05-28 | 1983-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-26 | 1987-05-28 | 1987-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-26 | 1991-05-28 | 1991-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |